Published by Addison-Wesley (July 5, 2013) © 2014
Ilan Goldstein
Practical, Step-by-Step Scrum Techniques for Improving Processes, Actions, and Outcomes
The widespread adoption and success of Scrum can be attributed in large part to its perceived intuitiveness and simplicity. But when new Scrum practitioners attempt to apply Scrum theory and high-level approaches in actual projects, they often find it surprisingly difficult. In Scrum Shortcuts without Cutting Corners, Scrum expert Ilan Goldstein helps you translate the Scrum framework into reality to meet the Scrum challenges your formal training never warned you about.
Drawing on his extensive agile experience in a wide range of projects and environments, Goldstein presents thirty proven, flexible shortcuts for optimizing Scrum processes, actions, and outcomes. Each shortcut walks you through applying a Scrum approach to achieve a tangible output. These easy-to-digest, actionable patterns address a broad range of topics including getting started, quality and metrics, team members and roles, managing stakeholders, estimation, continuous improvement and much more.
Whatever your role, Scrum Shortcuts without Cutting Corners will help you take your Scrum skills to the next level and achieve better results in any project you participate in.
Foreword xvii
Preface xix
Acknowledgments xxiii
About the Author xxv
Chapter 1: Scrum Startup 1
Shortcut 1: Scrum on the Pitch 1
Shortcut 2: Fragile Agile 5
Shortcut 3: Creative Comfort 11
Wrap Up 15
Chapter 2: Attitudes and Abilities 17
Shortcut 4: Masterful ScrumMaster 17
Shortcut 5: Rock Stars or Studio Musicians? 21
Shortcut 6: Picking Your Team Line-Up 25
Wrap Up 31
Chapter 3: Planning and Protecting 33
Shortcut 7: Setting the Scrum Stage 33
Shortcut 8: Plan the Sprint, Sprint the Plan 37
Shortcut 9: Incriminating Impediments 42
Wrap Up 45
Chapter 4: Requirement Refinement 47
Shortcut 10: Structuring Stories 47
Shortcut 11: Developing the Definition of Done 51
Shortcut 12: Progressive Revelations 57
Wrap Up 61
Chapter 5: Establishing Estimates 63
Shortcut 13: Relating to Estimating 63
Shortcut 14: Planning Poker at Pace 69
Shortcut 15: Transitioning Relatively 75
Wrap Up 81
Chapter 6: Questioning Quality 83
Shortcut 16: Bah! Scrum Bug! 83
Shortcut 17: We Still Love the Testers! 87
Shortcut 18: Automation Nation 91
Wrap Up 98
Chapter 7: Monitoring and Metrics 99
Shortcut 19: Metrics That Matter 99
Shortcut 20: Outstanding Stand-Ups 107
Shortcut 21: Taming the Task Board 111
Wrap Up 115
Chapter 8: Retros, Reviews, and Risks 117
Shortcut 22: To-Dos for Your Sprint Reviews 117
Shortcut 23: Retrospective Irrespective 122
Shortcut 24: Risk Takers and Mistake Makers 129
Wrap Up 133
Chapter 9 Managing the Managers 135
Shortcut 25: Perception Is Reality 135
Shortcut 26: Our Lords and Masters 140
Shortcut 27: Morphing Managers in the Matrix 145
Wrap Up 152
Chapter 10: Larger Lessons 153
Shortcut 28: Scrum Rollout Reckoning 153
Shortcut 29: Eyes on the Prize 158
Shortcut 30: Shortcut to the Final Level 162
Final Wrap Up 165
References 167
Index 171